Sunspots - Saturday December 4th 2021

 Solar flux is 85 and the SSN 29. A=8 and K=3.

160m FT8 RX (Friday)

It is now 1958z and I recently QSYed to 160m FT8 RX using the indoor Wellgood active loop antenna. So far,  45 stations spotted. with the furthermost RA3GDV (2654km).

10m FT8 RX (Friday)

 At 0923z, my gear was turned on. At 0930z 16 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1750z: 162 stations spotted today.

OFCOM and protecting radio astronomy

OFCOM is consulting about how best to protect radio astronomy just below 26GHz. See the OFCOM website for details.

Best ever QSO?

My best ever QSO was probably in 2007 when I had a 1W CW QSO on 6m (50MHz) with a station in the USA by E layer propagation. It was a very good 6m opening. My antenna was just the V2000 vertical omni. The other station was well equipped, but we had a solid QSO and I have the QSL card to prove it.

Burgh Island , Devon - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of Burgh Island in Devon taken a few years ago. The hotel on the island has had some famous visitors including a future king and the authoress Agatha Christie. 

The island is connected to the mainland by a narrow sand strip at low tide. At other times access to the island is by a sea tractor made locally.

136/137kHz - which modes?

A few days ago I tried spotting on 137kHz WSPR. Nothing was copied. 

I am wondering what modes are used mostly these days on this band?   Perhaps WSPR is less popular on 137kHz than it once was.

Shack 1970s

The photo shows my "shack" in the late 1970s. It was a desk in a bedroom. Looks like I used a Liner-2 2m SSB rig and an Eddystone EC10 receiver. Between the EC10 and Liner-2 is my VXO controlled 10m TX.

Sunspots - Friday December 3rd 2021

Solar flux is 87 and the SSN 45.   A=10 and K=1 .

OFCOM and terahertz spectrum

OFCOM is seeking views on how best to use spectrum above 100GHz. 

The cynic in me says they are really looking for how to make yet more money from licences. See the OFCOM website for more details. 

Just think a few more 5G licences could bring in a few billions.....What a good way to make a bit more.